Resources for Old Fort Slide Residents
Upcoming Events
- North Peace Rural Roads Committee Meeting
Nov 3, 2020 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am - Solid Waste Committee Meeting
Nov 5, 2020 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm - Board Meeting
Nov 12, 2020 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm - EADC / RBAC
Nov 19, 2020 | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
- North Peace Rural Roads Committee Meeting
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Update for Old Fort residents – October 26, 2020
Update for Old Fort residents – October 26, 2020
Following the landslides of 2018 and 2020 which affected access to the community of Old Fort, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) committed to providing residents with a comprehensive report to help gain knowledge of geohazards and associated risks, as well as to help the PRRD with the consideration of potential risk mitigation strategies for the identified high-risk areas.
In December 2019, the PRRD contracted Tetra Tech, a leading provider of engineering services worldwide, to complete the report. Tetra Tech has made good progress, but the process requires very extensive research and technical analysis, and the PRRD and the consultants want to make sure that the report is as comprehensive and informative as possible so that the PRRD, Old Fort residents and other stakeholders have the best possible information to guide them going forward.
Originally promised by September 2020, the complexities of the research and analysis mean the report will not be available until the first quarter of 2021. We understand that residents are extremely anxious to receive this information and we apologize for this extended timeline.
Tetra Tech is moving as quickly as possible to provide the report without compromising the quality of the research and technical analysis required. We are committed to sharing the report with you as soon as we can. Thank you.
Chair Brad Sperling
2021 PRRD Board Meeting Schedule
The PRRD Board approved the 2021 PRRD Board Meeting Schedule at its October 22, 2020 meeting.
PRRD presses for action on Site C impacts
The Peace River Regional District released a letter sent to the parties with candidates running in the upcoming BC election asking for assistance to negotiate a community measures agreement to mitigate the impacts of Site C on regional district residents and services.
Letters were sent to candidates and parties in the Peace River North and South ridings on October 16, 2020. The PRRD Board of Directors looks forward to hearing from candidates on their parties’ views ahead of the October 24 BC provincial election.
For more information:
Click here to read Letter to Candidates
Click here to read the Media Release
Click here to read PRRD Site C Community Measures Agreement Background Information
NOW OPEN – 2021 Recreational Trails Grants-in-Aid Intake!
Are you a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to promote the development, improvement and maintenance of recreational trails? Are you planning a project for 2021? If so, the PRRD may be able to help. Check out PRRD Grant Services to learn about the grants available or contact the Dawson Creek office (250-784-3200) and speak with the Grant Coordinator. Deadline to apply is November 15, 2020.
Board Meeting Agenda – October 22nd
The agenda for the PRRD Board meeting to be held at 10 am on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the PRRD Office Boardroom located at 1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, is now posted to the website and is available for viewing.
As of June 1st, Board Meetings are open to the public; however, only 4 additional people are permitted. If you wish to attend a Board Meeting for a specific agenda item, please email prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca to request a spot.
To follow social distancing requirements, please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/
Rose Prairie Water Station July Update
After reviewing a number of options for the Rose Prairie Water Station, the Peace River Regional District will be moving forward with the installation of a pilot, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filter, at the Rose Prairie Water Station. Once the modular unit is in place, it is estimated that the pilot will run for 4-6 weeks to ensure the water meets acceptable health standards for the residents of Electoral Area B.
The GAC Filters will be installed at the Rose Prairie Water Station over the summer, during which time the water will continue to be tested to ensure the new filters are working as expected and the water is meeting Northern Health standards. The pilot study for the GAC Filters will be installed on the Bottle Fill, with the commissioning and opening of the Bottle Fill planned to take place late August/early September at the earliest. If the pilot test on the Bottle Fill system is successful then full-scale design and construction will be the included next steps.
We want to thank residents once again for their patience throughout this project. The Staff and Directors at the PRRD are looking forward to seeing the Rose Prairie Water Station fully operational and serving the residents of Electoral Area B in 2020.
- Why Will Only the Bottle Fill be Open?
- The bottle fill will be open as a pilot project, to make sure the GAC Filter system is working as expected before implementing the solution for the whole system. The cost to install GAC Filters on the bottle fill is much less than installing the filters for the entire Water Station. By testing the GAC Filters on the bottle fill first, it allows us to have increased certainty in the solution before spending additional money.
- When Can We Expect the Full Site (Tank Fill and Bottle Fill) to be Open?
- The Bottle Fill is a pilot test to ensure that the GAC Filters will work as expected before installing them on the entire system. Staff and consultants will be evaluating how the GAC Filters are performing for the Bottle Fill and will make recommendations based on the data they receive to determine when the Full Site might be able to open. The recommendations are expected to be evaluated in October to determine the best course of action and timeline for the full opening of the Rose Prairie Water Station.
- Will the Water in the Bottle Fill be Safe?
- Water samples from the new GAC filtered water system will be thoroughly tested before the Bottle Fill station opens and will continue to be tested daily after the bottle fill opens to the public to make sure the water continues to meet Northern Health standards.
City of Fort St. John and Peace River Regional District Announce Agreement for Festival Plaza Lands
The City of Fort St. John and the Peace River Regional District have been working in partnership towards an adjustment of property lines for the Festival Plaza Development.
The Festival Plaza, which will be located on the southeast corner of 100 Street and 96 Avenue, was identified in the Downtown Action Plan as one of 10 Big Moves to Energize the Downtown. The development will consist of a covered shelter, food truck stalls, performance space and washrooms. It will be a year-round home for the farmers market, community events, food vendors, buskers, social gatherings and public art.
The Peace River Regional District will be placing public notices as per the requirements of the Local Government Act regarding the disposition of this property.
Construction on this project is slated to begin in Summer 2020, stay up-to-date with all City of Fort St. John Capital Projects at www.fortstjohn.ca/capital-projects.
To see the full press release, please click the link below.
Media Release – City and PRRD Announce Agreement for Festival Plaza Lands
Old Fort Updates
To read All Old Fort Emergency Updates on Behalf of MOTI, Click Here
To Read the Old Fort Emergency Plan, Click Here
PRRD Facility and Meeting Status – June 1 Update
Board Meetings
All PRRD Board Meetings will be live-streamed on the PRRD Facebook page to allow the public to view Board Meetings. Note that due to room occupancy limits, gallery seating for the public is limited to 4 people in order to ensure physical distancing. Please check our “COVID-19 Resources for Residents” page for a quick reference guide on attending Board meetings.
Facility Status
See Quick Reference Guides for more info!
- PRRD Main Office in Dawson Creek – open to the public
- PRRD Office in Fort St John – open to the public
- Charlie Lake Fire Hall – open by appointment (250 785-1424)
- PRRD Warehouse – open by appointment (250 784-3200)
- Landfills & transfer stations – open see schedule
- Water Stations – open
- Charlie Lake Sewer Receiving – open
- Share Sheds (open June 15th)
Regional Parks
See Quick Reference Guide for more info!
- Blackfoot Regional Park – open for camping (first come first served basis)
- Spencer Tuck Regional Park – open for day use
- Sundance Lake Regional Park – open for day use
- Minaker Regional Park – closed
- Montney Regional Park – open for day use
- Iver Johnson Community Park – open for day use
- Note: All PRRD Parks Washroom / Outhouse Facilities are open but are not cleaned daily
2019 CARIP Report
The Peace River Regional District is pleased to release the 2019 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) report.
Sandbags Available for PRRD Residents
Sandbags are available for PRRD Residents at several locations around the Peace Region to help prevent flooding on their properties.
- Moberly Lake Fire Hall
- Yips Subdivision
- Compass Services
- Iver Johnson Community Park
- Tomslake Fire Hall
- Tupper Hall
- Halfway Graham Community Hall
New PRRD Landfill Tipping Fees Model Means Changes for Commercial Users
The Peace River Regional District has adopted a new fee structure at Regional Landfills that gives the PRRD the ability to charge separate rates for residential and commercial landfill users. Under the new system, residents will not see any changes to their current bills while commercial users will see an increase of 3.3% beginning on May 1st, 2020.
Rose Prairie Water Station March Update
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, meetings that were scheduled to discuss the next steps for the Rose Prairie Water Station were cancelled and have not yet been rescheduled at this time. PRRD Staff are eager and committed to looking for solutions to move forward on the Rose Prairie Water Station, however, health and safety must come first. These meetings will be rescheduled as soon as possible and we will update you on future plans and actions for the Rose Prairie Water Station as soon as we have new information available.
North East Emergency & Public Alerts – One Year Anniversary!
Today is the 1 Year Anniversary of North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts! Over 1000 Residents of the Peace Region have already signed up for receive alerts! Thank you for staying informed and spreading the word about North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts in your community.
COVID-19: Resources for Residents
PRRD Offices are now open to the Public with new procedures to keep both the public and our staff safe!
Quick Reference Guides
Camping and Recreating in PRRD Parks
Operating a PRRD Owned Community Facility
Renting a PRRD Owned Community Facility
Taking Items to Landfills and Transfer Stations
Making a Development Application
Using the Charlie Lake Sewer Receiving Facility
Attending a Board or Committee Meeting
Frequently Asked Questions About PRRD Operations
- How do I speak to or make an appointment with staff?
- Peace River Regional District offices are now open for their regular office hours. To speak to one of our staff, the public is welcome to come to our offices during business hours or may also use our staff directory to reach any of our staff members.
- What are the PRRD Office COVID procedures?
- The PRRD has introduced new safety procedures to ensure that everyone who visits our office – both the public and staff – are as safe as possible. These new procedures include:
- Everyone entering PRRD facilities must sanitize their hands when they come in.
- Each room, including meeting rooms and reception areas, have a maximum occupancy to ensure we are able to follow social distancing. If the occupancy is exceeded, please wait outside until someone exits.
- An information log will be kept of all people to enter PRRD offices to help with contact tracing should someone who has been in our offices discover they have COVID-19.
- How many people are allowed in PRRD Offices?
- The number of people allowed in a room/building has been determined by the size and ability to ensure physical distancing (staying a minimum of 2 metres or 6 feet apart).
- The maximum number of public allowed in the Fort St John Office Reception Area: 2
- The maximum number of public allowed in the Dawson Creek Office Reception Area: 3
- When will PRRD facilities be opening?
- As all of BC begins to return to our ‘new normal’ of the BC Restart Plan, the Peace River Regional District will be taking steps towards recovery with the new PRRD COVID Recovery Plan. We are currently in Phase Two of the PRRD Recovery Plan, which sees a number of facilities open.
Phase 1 (Mid – Late May 2020) - Staff resume work in Dawson Creek and Fort St John offices
Montney Centennial Park and Iver Johnson Park opens for day-use only
Phase 2 ( June to September 2020) - PRRD offices open to the public
- Charlie Lake Fire members resume in-person training with conditions
- PRRD community halls may resume maintenance and cleaning activities with conditions.
- Essential public hearings, on a case by case basis, may resume in-person if electronic options are not available and if ap propriate meeting venues and sanitization requirements can be met
- Blackfoot Regional Park opens for camping.
- Share Sheds Open (as of June 15)
- Minaker River Regional Park opens for camping
- PRRD will consider, on a case by case basis, community halls holding small events with less than 50 people (starting in July)
- Chetwynd Recreation Centre and North Peace Leisure Pool will open under the direction of the municipalities.
- Buick and Clearview Arenas will open at the direction of School District No 60
- Essential in-region travel
Phase 3 (TBD) Date to be determined dependent on public health, social and economic factors to be examined starting in August 2020 - Non-essential meetings
- Public engagement activities
- In-person engagement with First Nations communities
- Out-of-region travel
- Staff resume work in Dawson Creek and Fort St John offices
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How Can I . . . |
In-Person | Phone | Social Media | |
| Pay a Bill | X | X | ||
| Contact a Staff Person or ask a question | X | X | X | X |
| Attend a Board Meeting or Committee | X | X | X (Livestream) | |
| Get information about a building permit or land use application. | X | X | X |
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The PRRD is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 / Coronavirus situation. We encourage residents to stay up to date and continue to follow the Provincial and Federal Governments as the official sources for new information. Below are some resources that may be helpful for residents:
BC Centre for Disease Control | Website Facebook
Northern Health | Website Facebook
Northern BC Information Line: 1-844-645-7811
Government of Canada – Public Health | Website Facebook
Health Link BC (BC Ministry of Health) | Website Facebook
PRRD Offices Closed to the Public
During this difficult time, the Peace River Regional District will be taking steps to protect employees and the public by closing the PRRD Main office in DC, office in FSJ, Charlie Lake Fire Hall, and Warehouse to the public as of 4:30pm on March 20th.
Many of our employees will now be working remotely to combat the spread of COVID-19. We want to reassure our residents that PRRD employees will still be available to help.
For assistance, please call the PRRD at 250-784-3200 / Toll Free: 800-670-7773. To contact a PRRD staff member by email, visit the Staff Directory to find a list of our staff with their contact information.
Continue to check prrd.bc.ca for future updates.
North Peace Leisure Pool Closed
As of March 14, 2020 the North Peace Leisure Pool will be closed until further notice. Please refer to the City of Fort St John’s website for more information.
For information on Pool and Facilities in other municipalities, please refer to their websites.
Rose Prairie Water Station February Update
Following the January Update, Directors and staff at the PRRD are continuing to evaluate alternative options to come up with the best solution for the Rose Prairie Water Station.
Thank you again to the residents still waiting for the Rose Prairie Water Station. We appreciate your frustration and thank you for your patience yet again. Another update on the Rose Prairie Water Station will be issued by the end of March.
Learn more about the Rose Prairie Water Station by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at prrd.bc.ca.
PRRD Finance Department Receives Canadian Award for Financial Reporting
Congratulations to the PRRD Finance Department for receiving their 2018 Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Award.
The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting has been awarded to the Peace River Regional District, British Columbia by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its annual financial report. The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Program was established to encourage municipal governments throughout Canada to publish high-quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
Click here to download the 2018 Annual Report
Click here to learn more about the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting
Southern Mountain Caribou Partnership Agreement Signed
The Partnership Agreement between the Province of BC, Government of Canada, Saulteau First Nations, and West Moberly First Nations for the recovery of southern mountain caribou was signed on Friday, February 21, 2020.
Read More: Southern Mtn. Caribou Partnership Agreement Signed
Rose Prairie Water Station January Update
Following the last Rose Prairie Water Station Update on December 20, 2019, the Electoral Area Directors Committee made a resolution to authorize testing a second water well near the water station as a potential alternative water source while work continues on the existing sulphide/turbidity issues.
Southern Mountain Caribou Correspondence
At the January 23rd Board Meeting, the PRRD Board received a response to their December 13th Letter from Premier John Horgan and resolved:
That the Regional Board support the District of Chetwynd by advising the Honourable John Horgan, Premier of BC, that it will not participate in the following scheduled caribou related working group meetings:
- Snowmobile Advisory Committee (January 23, 2020 in Dawson Creek)
- Land Use Objectives Stakeholder Committee & Socio-Economic Advisory Committee (January 24, 2020 in Chetwynd) unless local government is awarded a seat on the Caribou Recovery Committee specified in the Partnership Agreement to Recover the Central Group of Southern Mountain Caribou, or a meeting of the Leaders’ Table is called and local government is provided information that local government will be provided the opportunity to participate in the Partnership Agreement, other than through separate advisory committees.
This resolution was sent in a letter to Premier John Horgan on January 23rd, 2020.
Find more information, see the Southern Mountain Caribou Engage Page!
Rose Prairie Water Station Update
The Peace River Regional District would like to apologize for the delays in opening the Rose Prairie Water Station. Residents have been extremely patient in what we know has been a frustrating process. During the commissioning of the Rose Prairie Water Station earlier this year, Sulphides were found in the water supply. Additional treatments have been installed to reduce the Sulphides, however, these treatments have not yet been able to decrease the measurable turbidity (cloudiness) in the water to acceptable levels. The PRRD’s goal is to open the Rose Prairie Water Station as soon as possible, however, the health and safety of residents is our top concern. Before opening, the Rose Prairie Water Station must meet the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and the BC Ministry of Health treatment objectives for groundwater. The PRRD is carefully weighing different options to move forward with the Rose Prairie Water Station. So far, options include locating an alternative water source within the vicinity of the existing water station and/or additional treatment upgrades. It is our intention to have an update for residents by the end of January 2020.
The Peace River Regional District would like to once again thank residents for their patience and look forward to the opening of the Rose Prairie Water Station in 2020!
Read the Rose Prairie Water Station Frequently Asked Questions here!
Agriculture Challenges 2019 Survey
Let’s tell the story of the Agriculture Industry in the Peace. The PRRD is asking Peace Region Farmers to complete a short survey about how the poor weather in 2019 has affected producers and businesses.
Visit prrd.bc.ca/engage/agriculture to find out more and take the survey.
Reminder – Please Stay Off Fields
- Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, many farmers were not able to harvest their crops and they will remain in the fields until they can be harvested in the spring.
- Driving snowmobiles and other recreational vehicles on the crops will damage them, resulting in less crops being viable in the spring.
- If you need to get around a field, choose to drive around the edges than through the middle of the field.
Agriculture in the Peace River Regional District
The PRRD is taking the situation facing the Agriculture Industry extremely seriously and is taking action to advocate for agriculture.
At the November 14th Board Meeting, the Peace River Regional District Board resolved to take action in support the local agriculture industry by sending a letter to provincial and federal representatives, including Premier John Horgan, Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham, MLA Dan Davies, MLA Mike Bernier, and MP Bob Zimmer. The Peace River Regional District would like to clarify that while the PRRD Board is in full support of the Agriculture industry and local farmers, there has not been a declaration of an Agricultural Emergency at this time. Video of the full discussion regarding the report can be found on the PRRD’s website at https://prrd.bc.ca/agendasminutes/peace-river-regional-district-prrd/.
Letter to Premier Horgan – Leaders’ Table on Caribou
October 24th, 2019
Dear Premier Horgan:
Re: Leaders’ Table re: Caribou
On October 10th, the Peace River Regional District wrote to you to express extreme disappointment that the Board did not receive an invitation to participate in the proposed Leaders’ Table regarding the Draft Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement for the Conservation of the Central Group of the Southern Mountain Caribou. . . .
Sign Up for North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts!
The North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts system has hit 1,000 subscribers! Have you and your family signed up?
North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts is a community-wide notification system. Residents who subscribe will be alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up. Residents can sign up to receive time-sensitive messages on their home, mobile or business phone, email address, or by text message.
Walkthrough the signup process quickly and easily with this tutorial video!
Letter to Ministry of Public Safety – Data Request
The Peace River Regional District Board has requested the information referred to by the Ministry of Public Safety in their July 26, 2019 email.
PRRD Requests Data Gathered by Ministry Regarding Old Fort Area
The Peace River Regional District Board reviewed the letter sent by Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General on July 26, 2019 in response to a previous letter sent by MLA Dan Davies, on June 25, 2019, expressing his concerns regarding the Old Fort Landslide area.
The Minister’s letter suggests the area is unlikely to experience “a dramatic slippage of the remaining hillside that might further impact homes to occur. The data suggests that if movement was to recommence, it would be a slow-moving slide as had been experienced in the previous slide that initiated on September 30, 2018.” The Regional Board is requesting from the Ministry the data that substantiates this statement.
Once the data is received, the Peace River Regional District plans to have the data verified by applicable experts to consider whether evacuation alerts and orders may be removed from the Old Fort area.
New Washrooms at Mile 202
‘Gotta Go’ pilot project establishes the first new restroom facility along the Alaska Highway.
Read the full news release – Gotta Go News Release – June 25th
2018 CARIP Report
The Peace River Regional District is pleased to release the 2018 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) report.
Letter to Federal and Provincial Governments Regarding Southern Mountain Caribou Engagement
Click here to read the letter from Chair Brad Sperling on behalf of the PRRD Board to Hon. Minister McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Hon. Minister Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, regarding the community division caused by the Southern Mountain Caribou engagement process.
Water Stations are Opening!
Water credits will be charged starting on June 15th at a rate of $3.00/m3.
Complete the signup process online at prrdwater.com or visit one of the PRRD offices in Fort St John or Dawson Creek during regular office hours for assistance.
Once registered, residents will be able to purchase water credits online any time of the day or night from their computer or other device and have access to potable water stations using their individual access code and pin.
Read the Water Station How-To Guide for more information on setting up your account online!
Continue to watch prrd.bc.ca for water station updates.
Sign Up for North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts
How Will You Stay Informed About Emergencies?
Your safety is our top concern – that’s why communities in North East BC want to make sure you know about emergencies and public alerts as they happen. The Peace River Regional District will use the North East BC Emergency & Public Alerts system powered by Everbridge to make sure you know about issues that may affect your safety. This system allows the Peace River Regional District to contact thousands of residents in seconds so you can find out about an emergency right away. Receive important messages from the Peace River Regional District via email, phone, and text!
Evacuation Order Issued
March 25, 2019- The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation order for the house and surrounding property at 8657 Highway 29 South. This property is located in Electoral Area E, between Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge.
The evacuation order was issued due to a landslide impacting the property and it is believed that there is an imminent threat to life and property.
The occupants self-evacuated on March 23, 2019.
The Peace River Regional District is working with EMBC and other agencies to determine the next steps.
Charlie Lake Fire Department
The Charlie Lake Fire Department was paged out at 18:34 on March 17, 2019, to respond to a structure fire on Poplar Road.
Once CLFD arrived, the fire was found to be burning in a bedroom. With quick action of the CLFD firefighters, the fire was knocked down, stopping the fire from spreading.
I8 firefighters were on scene, along with Engine 1, Engine 2, Tender 1, Rescue, and Squad 1 & 2. BC Ambulance Service and BC Hydro attended the scene as well.
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Public Notification
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Public Notification
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources authorized Deasan Holdings Ltd. to begin removing gravel stockpiles at the gravel pit located near Old Fort and Fort St. John, B.C. on March 4, 2019.
The PRRD Continues to Advocate for Caribou Recovery Plan Community Consultations
The Peace River Regional District continues to advocate for an open conversation between the public and the Province regarding the status of the discussions about caribou recovery.
In a letter to Chair Brad Sperling, Minister George Heyman confirmed that the government is committed to advancing caribou recovery, while seeking to provide for the best interests of British Columbians. He noted that to help this iconic species recover, there needs to be a collaborative approach that works for everyone, and that as the Provincial Government moves forward with caribou recovery, BC will be looking at the impacts of all land uses.
Since the meeting in Prince George with the Province, Chair Sperling has continued to be in contact with the province as they work with the Federal government to roll out the consultation to the region. Chair Sperling has requested that a minimum of three public consultations be held in the region. He would like to see meetings held in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
Full Media release here: 2019-15-2019 Caribou Press release
Waste-Free Valentine’s Gifts
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Are you needing a last minute gift idea? Well, we got you covered with some last minute ideas that are also waste conscious!
Review of 9-1-1 Call Connection Delay January 8, 2019, Concluded
February 1, 2019- At the request of the Peace River Regional District and North Island 9-1-1, E-Comm (9-1-1 answer point for the Peace River Regional District) has provided the following information after a report of a 9-1-1 call connection delay on January 8, 2019.
